I have this problem too. I was bullied badly. I did ask them to stop. They laughed in my face. My dad was a bully too. It was relentless. I feel your pain for those years when we felt so powerless and unhappy.

I had no confidence either. I didn't understand why it was happening. I asked why they hated me so much. They laughed in my face. And this went on for my entire schooling, and at home until I was 18.

So, I really get it. I'm glad you have support. I have a very patient husband. He'll listen to me when no one else would. We all need support and to find ways of processing the past.

I try to focus on the present and it works, but sometimes I still get dragged there. Christmas alone is better now, since covid, because relatives always dragged up the past and that was a problem. I hope you have a good one.